40 January 10 • 2019
jn

I

t’
s always great to close out a year
and start a fresh, new one. The
same can be said with a fiscal
year, a quarter or a month in any
business. Regardless which of these
you are beginning — including a
new and, most likely, improved goal
— we must remember that what got
us to where we are will not get us to
where we want to go. This is a sim-
ple concept many people have a hard time grasping
because with new comes an increase in discipline,
resilience and seeing things through new lenses.
Here are three ways we can make sure our new
lenses bring us the clarity we need to thrive and
achieve our goals.

INCREASE OUR AWARENESS
We must take a hard look at the limiting beliefs that
continually get us stuck in our business, with our
people and our ability to grow our own leadership
skills. This requires us to look introspectively and
evaluate ourselves first, not just those around us.
Studies show that we need 7-16 minutes a day
where we turn off all external stimuli and tune
internally for deep thinking and/or to think about
nothing. Our brain needs time to process and sim-
ply not be so overworked all the time. We must pay

attention to keeping our brain healthy.

A Monthly Challenge:
Take 7-16 minutes each day to do nothing. Go for a
walk without your iPhone, sit in a chair daydream-
ing without your phone nearby and/or make up
your own routine that allows you to unplug. This
may also be great to incorporate into your compa-
ny’
s culture. Show your people you really care about
them by paying them to daydream and take care of
their internal world. I think you may be surprised by
the results!

UNDERSTANDING AND OVERCOMING
YOUR LIMITING BELIEFS
We all have them, yet many of us don’
t even know
what they are, nor do we want to know what they
are. That being said, if we want to grow, we must
know what our limiting beliefs are.
According to Body, Mind and Mouth, we have
nearly 50,000 thoughts a day and most of them are
negative. How are we supposed to grow our business
when our own thoughts and mindset are holding us
back? This is unacceptable.

A Monthly Challenge:
Every time you think, say or hear yourself saying
or echoing a negative thought, I want you to say to

yourself or quietly, “shhhh.
” The thought process
here is simple: If you are the one filling your own
brain with these negative beliefs, then you are the
one that needs to tell yourself to be quiet. A simple
“shhh” will get that started and begin to stop you
in your tracks. You can even say to yourself: “Shhh,
say/think something positive right now and release
the negative thoughts.
” I know this exercise is not
easy, but you need to start somewhere.

GET UNSTUCK
It’
s common for most people to not even know if
or where they are stuck. How many times do you
feel like the Dunkin’
Donuts guy and say or think to
yourself: “Time to make the donuts!”
Research shows that 80 percent of Americans see
themselves as “creatures of habit” and many have
not changed their schedules in more than 10 years.
I’
m a big believer in habits that work in the growth
of your business, life and mindset. That being said,
what habits and schedules have not changed for you,
but should? This is an important question to know
where you may be stuck and need to get unstuck.

A Monthly Challenge:
Take 15 minutes this week and do the following:
• Make a list of three areas in your
business where you may be stuck.
• Write about what you do.
• Write about what you believe you
should be doing.
• Highlight the areas where you
need to grow.
• Once you highlight those areas,
create three specific and measur-
able leading activities to begin
your journey of getting unstuck.
• Create a 30-day plan and begin
taking action today .

Tap into your hunger, drive and courage to have
a year of significant growth. In order to do this, you
must:
• Spend time increasing your
awareness.
• Don’
t let your own mind get in
your way.
• Pay attention to where you are
stuck and the action steps needed
to create change.

None of this is easy, but it’
s important for the
growth of your mind, your business and your soul.
When you do the work internally, the external work
gets easier because you and your business matter. ■

Jon Dwoskin is a business coach and executive adviser
who grows businesses. He is the author of “The Think Big
Movement.” Visit jondwoskin.com for more or email him at jon@
jondwoskin.com.

Jon Dwoskin

Monthly challenges
help keep our brains
healthy and aware.
Being
Mindful
of Your
Mindfulness